Real Estate

West Madison shoppers will notice a few areas of the mall under construction for several weeks as crews work to update bathrooms and flooring in several areas, according to a release.

The West Towne Mall said Friday that construction to the bathrooms near the food cart will begin Monday. The tile, lighting, plumbing fixtures and finishes will be replaced in the men's and women's bathrooms. The bathrooms near the mall office will begin renovations after the food court restrooms are finished.

West Towne Mall General Manager Paul Matyas said the revamped bathrooms will have touch-free fixtures and barrier-free entrances.

Carpet will be replaced in several areas throughout the mall beginning Wednesday. Soft seating areas will receive new carpet treatments and areas near the Apple Store and Pottery Barn will have carpet put in.

Work will be done throughout the day and overnight and is expected to be finished by early September, according to the release.

The first group of new retailers that will open in the newly designed Hilldale mall were announced Tuesday.

The newly designed project, expected to open the fall of 2014, is being developed by WS Development from Massachusetts, according to the release. The firm's plan for Hilldale includes an open-air lifestyle layout with new stores.

The plan proposes to take the existing enclosed mall area between Metcalfe's and Macy's and create an open-air streetscape, officials said. The plan shows outward facing storefronts along the existing streets in the area, and adds an open-air retail connection through a pedestrian walkway to the west parking lot with additional storefronts.

A Milwaukee-based company announced Tuesday they will collaborate with a Chicago-based firm to develop and construct a new student housing development on the former location of the Stadium Bar.

The Opus Group along with Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, a Chicago-based real estate investment management firm, will build Varsity Quarters, a new student housing development adjacent to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, according to a release.

The housing development will be built at the former site of the Stadium Bar at 1423 Monroe St., according to the release. The six-story private student housing development will include numerous amenities for tenants, including in-unit washers and dryers, parking for cars, bikes and mopeds, a fitness room, study rooms and a social/club room.

Officials said the development will include approximately 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

Neighbors who fought against a controversial west side development came away unhappy after Madison city leaders approved it for the second time.

Developer Fred Rouse has plans for a four-story building with 21 apartment units and first-floor shopping on the corner of Monroe and Knickerbocker streets.

Neighbors have said they're concerned that people on upper balconies will be able to see into their backyards, and are also worried about an increase in traffic.

"We all want the best possible neighborhood," said Alderman Sue Ellingson, who supported the project despite the opposition of some constituents. "We want it to be a viable place, where people want to live. And it's tragic, I guess, that we don't have the same idea to make that happen."

Neighbors forced the city council to take a stand on the project by petitioning for a second look after the Madison Planning Commission approved the development last month.